Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-03-04
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1S, 1887.

| AO1
Congress has given its attention to
a vast amount of miscellaneous matter
during the present week, such rs the
Texas Ku-Klux investigation, money
for rivers and harbors, retaliation to-
wards Canada, and the trade dollar,
but the most interesting debate oc-
cured in the Senate over the bill pro-
viding for the increase of the naval
establishment.
The Senate voted for the building
of ten new cruisers. Senator Maxey,
of Texas, was not only in favor Of
building war vessels, but of fortifying
every seaport in the country. He
knew that it was going to cost money,
but he said if there was any force in
the maxim d" in time of peace prepare
for war;" this was the time to put it in
practice, when the Treasury was over
flowing and when the money was be-
ing absolutely wasted.
Senator Butler, of South Carolina,
wanted the vessels to be heavily ar
mored. Mr.. Hale insisted that the
pending bill confined the new vessels
strictly to defensive, not aggressive
purposes. He was for defensive pur-
purposes first, and after that, if ar
mored ships were desired, he would
favor them. The two features on
which Congress was now proceeding
were the fast cruisers (making it dan
gerous for other nations to engage in
war with the United States, because
their commerce would be the prey of
the cruisers,) and the coast defenses to
prevent foreign fleets from lombard
ing the great cities of the United States.
Senator ingalls, expressed the belief
that the floating batteries provided for
in the bill would be practically useless.
The Senate had been, within the past
few weeks, appropriating millions on
millions, not for tribute, but for de-
fense. Wealthy men, who did not care
how the money was to go, had been
doing this. He hoped that the Senate
would pause in its headlong career
long enough to get some tangible in
formation as to how much money
there was in the Treasury, and how
long the" Fountain of Pactolus" would
afford the golden stream necessary to
meet the millions which the Senate
was so recklessly voting away.
| Senator Dolph had read to the Sen
ate a newspaper clipping which de-
scribed an imaginary attack Oh and
destruction of the city of San Fran
cisco, by hostile feet. Then he
dwelt upon the present defenseless
condition of the United States and
said it was under heavy bond to keep
the peace with all the world, and that
it would be at a humiliating disadvan-
tage in any controversy.
| When Senator Vest took the floor
he asked who was responsible for the
present disgraceful lack of United
States navy and sea-coast defenses.
He knew that he would be " threshing
old straw" but he wanted to remind
! the Senate and the country that there
was not in the history of the civilized
world page of mal-administration
equal to that of the Navy Department
OF the United States since 1865. 1t
was not the fault of Congress that the
country had no ships and no coast de-
fenses. 1t had appropriated since the
close of the war nearly O,OOO, 900
for naval purposes. If British Min
lister should make such an exhibit in
Parliament as the U. S. Navy Depart
ment from 1865 to 1885, he would be
pursued out of his place with execra-
tions. The Senator believed that if
this session was to last much longer
"Congress would put Aladdin's lamp
into the hands of q receiver"
The House of Representatives has
made up its mind to fight the Presi-
dents veto of the big pauper pension
bill, and the Senate of course will do
the same. 1t is not believed, however,
that the veto can be overriden.
The Presidents latest veto is that of
the Texas seed bill. 1t appropriated
$4,000 for seed corn and wheat to be
distributed in the drouth-stricken re-
gion of that State. Its advocates made
a strong plea, but the President said
in the message accompanying the
veto, al do not believe that the power
and duty of the General Government
ought to be extended to the relief of
individual suffering which is in no
manner properly related to the public
service or benefit" Among his SEN
tences was one which will doubtless
have place with the familiar quota
tions of our Federal politics. Said he
Though the people support the Gov
ernment, the Government ought not
support the people," Dem.
OVER 10000 houses in Pittsburgh
and Allegheny City are using natural
gas for light and fuel. This takes the
place of 10000 tons of coal daily, OF
about 200 100000 bushels of coal an.